What is the national minimum wage in Australia?

From 1 July 2026 the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week. This applies to award‑free and agreement‑free adult employees. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. Lower rates apply for juniors, apprentices, trainees, and some supported employees.

How can I check if my pay is correct?

Use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool to find the correct award or agreement that covers your job. Your base rate must be at least the minimum in that award. If you are award‑free, the national minimum wage applies. Remember, superannuation (currently 12%) is paid on top of your ordinary time earnings.

Australian salary needed to feel rich: comparing your pay with the legal floor and the average

Q: What is the average Australian salary?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that in May 2026, full‑time adult ordinary‑time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week, while the average for all employees (including part‑time and casual) was $1,579.20 per week. These are averages, not medians, and can be skewed by high earners.

From 1 July 2026 the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for award‑free adult employees, but most workers are covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement that sets a higher rate.

What Australian salary is needed to feel rich?

There is no single figure that makes everyone feel rich, but understanding where your pay sits relative to the legal minimum and the national average is a practical starting point. This guide helps you compare your hourly or weekly rate with the pay floors set by the Fair Work Commission and with the average earnings published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The legal minimum: your pay floor

Every employee in Australia is entitled to at least the national minimum wage unless a modern award or enterprise agreement sets a higher rate. From 1 July 2026 the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week. Casual employees get a 25% loading, so the casual rate is $33.05 per hour.

However, most employees are covered by a modern award. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, minimum award wages increased by 4.75%, but the lowest ongoing classification in any award cannot fall below the national minimum of $26.44 per hour. Introductory rates (limited to the first six months) must be at least $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

Award‑free juniors, apprentices, trainees, and employees with a disability may be paid less than the adult national minimum. For example, an award‑free 17‑year‑old receives 57.8% of the adult rate, which is $15.29 per hour (casual $19.11).

Separating the minimum from the average

The phrase “Australian salary needed to feel rich” often refers to a survey‑based figure, not a legal one. The ABS reports that in May 2026, full‑time adult ordinary‑time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week, while the average for all employees (including part‑time and casual) was $1,579.20 per week. These are averages, not medians, and can be pulled upward by high incomes. No official “feel rich” threshold exists.

If you earn the national minimum wage, your weekly pay ($1,004.90) is about 64% of the all‑employees average. If you earn the full‑time average, you are well above the minimum but still below top income brackets.

Superannuation is on top

When comparing salaries, remember that your employer must pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% on top of your ordinary time earnings. For a worker on the national minimum wage, that adds about $120.59 per week to their total remuneration package.

Award rates and negotiated salaries

A modern award can set higher minimum rates than the national minimum. For example, many awards have multiple classification levels with rates above $30 per hour. An enterprise agreement can go even higher. If you are covered by an award or agreement, your base rate must be at least the rate in that document. Use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool to check your correct rate.

Negotiated salaries (common in professional roles) are not capped by awards but must still meet the national minimum. If your salary is above the high income threshold ($190,100 from 1 July 2026), some award protections may not apply.

How to do a practical check

Find your hourly or weekly gross pay before tax.
Identify whether you are covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. Which minimum wage applies
Compare your rate to the relevant minimum. If you are award‑free, use the national minimum wage table. Rate tables
Consider your total package including super (12% on top).
Look at the ABS average for context, but remember it is an average, not a target.

A note on tax

All figures above are before tax. For the 2026‑27 income year, resident rates with the full tax‑free threshold apply. Medicare levy of 2% is estimated once annualised ordinary gross income reaches $30,000. The low income tax offset and other offsets are not included in this comparison. For personalised tax advice, consult the ATO or a registered tax agent.

Summary

There is no official “Australian salary needed to feel rich”. The legal minimum is $26.44 per hour, the average full‑time worker earns about $2,084 per week, and your own rate depends on your award, agreement, or negotiation. Use the resources on this site to check your pay floor and see how you compare.

For more detail on how we calculate figures, see How the figures work. For a broader discussion of pay topics, visit Topics.